Pictures with Santa Claus

I took Jasper to see Santa this year. Talk about being his busy season, the lineup was huge!!

Santa said that Jasper was the best behaved child so far... in fact, he loved her!! But then, who wouldn't adore a lizard in a Christmas hat?

DIY Forest Diorama Bauble

Take some plastic clear baubles, some little trees and deer, some fake snow and a hot glue gun and you've got -

Cutie-pie little forest dioramas!

Bah, Humbug...

With one week left to go, a certain family member isn't so sure he's ready to be so festive...

Bah, humbug!

Disclaimer: No wildlife was harmed in the making of this picture.

Christmas Crafting

I can't sit around and do nothing while there's Christmas crafting to be done!
I've made our front door a wreath to match our Aussie tree, and the one I created for a friend -

I've made a felt mitten garland using ricrac and owl ribbon -

I made a little owl clay ornament for Liz!

Also a little winter wonderland house scene that glows when you turn it on -

What have you been making?

Golden Dinosaur Ornies

Here's a simple and fun idea. You know those plastic dinosaurs that you find in toy baskets in op shops, or even in your own home?

 

1. Collect the ones you want and spray paint them gold.
2. Get some wire and pliers, and push your wire into the dino's back until secure enough. I used jewelry bits with loops in already but you could easily curl the wire around to make a loop yourself.
3. Now simply cut your clear thread to size and tie a knot in the end.

They're ready to hang and enjoy!

Of course, you could use any sized and type of plastic animal, like kitties, or farm animals.

Shabby Christmas Tree Tutorial

Has anyone else noticed all the beach-themed Christmas crafts around lately? I've also noticed some beautiful drift-wood Christmas trees. Too much work for me, but it sparked an idea.

Ingredients:

• Branches of your choosing
• Pruning shears
• Scissors
• Spray Paint in your colour choice
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• Twine or string
• Cardboard
• Floral foam
• Pot or container of your choice
• Artificial moss or some other ground cover (I used wool)
• Artificial birds and mushrooms or whatever you wish.

Directions:
1. First, start by finding the perfect branches and pruning them to your desired length to create a Christmas tree effect. Secure your "branches" to your main "trunk" with hot glue, and then twine or string.

2. Paint your chosen container whatever colour you wish, or leave as is. Allow to dry.

3. Take your floral foam and cut to size of your container and secure into it with some hot glue. Push your Christmas tree into the foam and secure again with hot glue.

 4. Cut your cardboard to fit around your tree and whatever pot you've chosen, and secure it down with hot glue. Now spray paint your cardboard the same colour as your container, or green. Wait until dry, then cut any over-lap.

5. Now attach your artificial moss or other chosen "base." I chose wool and wrapped it in a spiral effect, securing with more hot glue.

6. Add your decorations! I put two toadstools at the base of my tree, along with a fungus owl I found in an op shop and some birdies I picked up at a cheap shop. You can always add a star on the top if you wish.

I adore my finished tree, and it looks good simply standing on it's own!

Giveaway Winner

Thankyou random number generator. The lucky winner is Peg from Happy in Quilting!
Well done Peg! your little wreath will be winging it's way to you soon, along with some other goodies!

Thankyou to everyone who entered and to Melody for putting it onto her blog.

Happy Birthday Jasper!

My little baby is 7 years old today!

I can't believe, with all her medical problems, that she's managed to make it this far. She's a very lucky girl, and very loved.

She even lets me dress her up in silly costumes! And she's given me two wonderful grandchildren. What more could a reptile owner ask for?

Happy Birthday Buffy!

7 years ago today, I got my very first reptile! Buffy my little (now big) snail-slayer.

Since then "she" has become a "he" (I know he always was but I was told he was a girl when I bought him) and has quadrupled his size and length.I love this lizard, he's so cool!

Happy 8th Birthday Buffy Boy!

DIY deer mount

I love faux deer head mounts! I have 2 little plastic ones hanging on my wall.

Seeing the patterns for DIY deer heads around the web, I decided to make one out of some scrap corrugated cardboard.
This was the result -

Now don't get me wrong, but it could be a lot better.
Take two, and now I'm happy with it.

Perfect for Christmas, and it can be pulled apart and stored flat for next year!